Apparatus for making patches



M. H. ROWE APiARATUS vFOR MAKING PATCHES Dgc. 13, 1949 Filed 0st. 2, 194

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IN V EN TOR.

'0." H. Rowe A TTORNEY u A I i I;

13; 1949 M. H. ROWE Arrmwus Fon MAKING PATCHES Filed Oct. 2, 194a I. Inn v 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 mi 21mm '67 a 63 w Mar/0n H. R0 We IN VEN TOR.

ATTQRNEY M, H.- ROWE Dec. '13, 1949 APPARATUS FOR MAKING Filed 06% 2,1948 Ill/ // ll llllllllm PATCHES 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Mar/on l7. Ra weINVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 13, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING PATCHES Marion H. Rowe, Dallas, Tex.

Application October 2, 1948, Serial No. 52,469

- 1 18 Claims. 1 This invention relates to new and useful improvementsin apparatus for making patches of uncured rubber or the like, and moreparticularly to the apparatus used in forming apatch of uncured rubberwith a protective covering of fabric or the like which can be readilygrasped and pulled away from the rubber.

It has been a common practice for many years to repair punctures,ruptures or breaks in inner tubes or other rubber articles by affixing apatch of rubber or the like to the article to completely cover and closethe break, rupture or puncture. One of the more common means foraccomplishing this result consists of individual selfcontainedvulcanizing units having a combination pressure plate and fuel containerwith a fuel element therein and a patch of vulcanizable gum rubber orother similar materialattached or adhering to the underside of thepressure plate. The vulcanizable gum rubber or other material commonlyhas a protective covering, usually of treated fabric such as Hollandcloth or similar material, which is pressed upon and tightly adheres tothe exposed surface of the gum material and which prevents contaminationand deterioration of the exposed surface of such vulcanizable gummaterial. Another means for repairing the puncture or break in therubber tube or other article is a patch known as a cold patch andcomprising a partially cured rubber backing and uncured rubber facingwhich is adapted to be applied to the tube or other article to adherethereto to completely cover and close the break or puncture. The uncuredrubber of this latter patch is likewise provided with a protectivecovering, usually of treated fabric such as Holland cloth or similarmaterial, which is pressed upon and tightly adheres to the exposedsurface of the uncured rubber of the patch to protect the same againstcontamination and deterioration. I v

The protective coverings of these patch members have heretofore been cutto the same size, shape and dimensions as the body of vulcanizablerubber or partially cured or vulcanized rubber having the uncured rubberon the face, and have therefore been difficult to remove when the patchis to be used. It has been necessary to insert some object between theprotective covering and the vulcanizable patch material or the uncuredgum rubber face of the patch to initially free an edge of the protectivecovering so that such covering may be stripped from the patch material,to provide for exposure of the uncured rubber or vulcanizable materialso that the 'same may be applied directly. upon the article to berepaired to adhere thereto. In the absence of some means for startingthe freeing or lifting of the protective covering, it has been extremelydifficult to remove the protective covering to uncover the vulcanizableor uncured rubber material without damaging the same.

A grasping portion or tab may be provided on the protective coveringmaterial to provide means for grasping and lifting the covering-materialto facilitate the stripping of the fabric cover from the rubber of thepatch preparatory to applying the same man article to be repaired.Vulcanizing patches having incorporated'therein the lift-.- ing tabsproviding for grasping and liftin the protective covering to stripthegsame from. the patch, together with methodsx'of making the same,have been illustrated inimy co-pending application for United StatesLetters Patent, Serial No. 732,190, filed Marchj4,'1947, and entitledVulcanizing patches and methods of making the same. l

The presentinvention pertains more particu- 1 larly to the apparatusused for initially separating the Holland protective coverin materialfrom the vulcanizable or uncured rubber of the patch material andinfolding the lifted or separated portion of the Holland fabric, wherebya patch shape may be cut from a strip of vulcanizable rubber having theprotective Holland fabric covering on one surface thereof to provide alifting tab for the Holland fabric to facilitate removal thereof fromthe vulcanizable or uncured rubber.

. It is, therefore, one object of this invention to provide an improvedapparatus for forming rub her or like patches having aprotectivecovering adhering to an uncured surface thereof and provided with a tabor grasping portion to facilitate removal of such protective coveringfrom the vulcanizable or uncured material of the patch.

An important object of the invention is to provide apparatus forseparating or freeing a marginal portion of the protective coveringmaterial from a body of patch material of rubber or the like having thecovering material adhering to one surface thereof.

It is a particular object of the invention to provide apparatus of thecharacter described which is constructed and arranged to continuouslylift and infold a marginal edge portion of the protective coveringfabric of an elongate strip of vulcanizable rubber having the protectivecovering adhering to one surface thereof, whereby the 3 rubber patchesmay be cut from Said strip to provide the protective covering with alifting tab or grasping portion.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus having meanstherein for positively separating a marginal portion of the protectiveHolland fabric from a strip of uncured rubber patch material, incombination with means arranged to infold the lifted or separatedmarginal edge portion of the Holland fabric to overlie the portion ofthe fabric remaining adhered to the uncured rubber adjacent the fold,and means for maintaining such infolded marginal portion of theprotective covering fabric in such folded position until a patch shapehas been cut from the strip of uncured rubber and Holland fabric withthe fold edge of the protective covering Holland fabric within the patchshape so cut out, whereupon the infolded portion of the fabric in thepatch shape may be unfolded to completely recover the exposed surface ofthe uncured rubber and provide a graspin portion or lifting tab on theprotective fabric.

It is a particularly important object of the invention to provide anapparatus of the character described which is adapted for use inautomatic machines, whereby the patch having the lifting tab on theprotective covering may be produced in great quantities and withoutadditional material cost.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will readily beapparent from the reading of the following description of a deviceconstructed in accordance with the invention, and reference to theaccompanying drawings thereof, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus, constructed in accordancewith the invention, for forming patches having lifting tabs,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of Figure 1,

Figure 3is a plan view ofa vulcanizing element having a patch formed inaccordance with the invention forming a part thereof,

Figure 4 is an enlarged plan view of the lifting and folding mechanismof the apparatus of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a rear side elevation of the lifting and folding mechanismof Figure4,

Figure 6 is an underside view of the lifting and folding mechanism,

Figures '7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 are fragmentary transverse verticalsectional views taken on the section lines '7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 of Figure4, showing the folding course through the folding mechanism,

Figure 12 is an enlarged isometric View of a strip of patch materialhaving a marginal portion of its protective covering lifted and infoldedin accordance with the invention,

Figure 13 is a schematic View illustrating the manner in which amarginal edge portion of the protected covering is lifted or freed fromthe strip of patch material,

Figure 14 is a view, similar to Figure 13, illustrating a modified formof means for lifting or freeing a marginal portion of the protectivecovering from a strip of patch material,

Figure 15 is a view similar to Figure 13 showing still another means forfreeing a marginal portion of the covering material from the strip ofpatch material, and

Figure 16 is an isometric view of the device of Figure 15'furthershowing the manner of lifting or freeing a marginal portion'of theprotective covering and infolding the same.

In the drawings, the numeral I0 designates a frame of a machine formaking patches. Mounted on the frame is a die ll having an aperture I2therein through which a punch l3 reciprocates to cut patch shapes froman elongate strip S of vulcanizable gum rubber G or the like having aprotective covering H, preferably of treated fabric such as Hollandcloth or the like, adhering to one surface thereof. The elongate stripof patch material is preferably formed in a roll R which is mounted on aspindle 15 carried by the frame of the machine and spaced from the dieand punch.

The strip of patch material S is withdrawn from the roll R with theHolland cloth H uppermost, and is directed first beneath a guide rollerl6 having an inner guide flange l1 formed thereon for correctly aligningthe strip for travel through the machine. From the guide roller, thestrip of patch material passes through a lifting and folding apparatus Awhich frees and infolds a marginal edge portion of the Holland cloth ofthe strip. In the lifting and folding apparatus, the strip is fed onto apressure roller I8 with the exposed surface of the rubber engaging theroller, and from the pressure roller the strip passes along theunderside of an arcuate folder shoe 19 with the Holland cloth engagingthe shoe. Both the pressure roller and the folder shoe are carried by aframe plate 20 which is secured to the machine frame l0. From thelifting and folding apparatus the strip passes under a second guide andpressure roller 2| having an inner guide flange 22 formed thereon, andthen over a large drive or feeding roller 23 mounted on a drive shaft23a and having a guide flange 24 at its inner end for driving andguiding the strip in its passage through the machine. From the feedingroller, the strip passes under a third guide roller 25 also having aguide flange 26 on its inner end for guiding the exposed lower surfaceof the rubber of the strip in proper alignment onto a stripping andsupplemental drive roller 21 mounted on a drive shaft 28 carried by theframe of the machine. The frictional engagement or adherence of theexposed rubber to the strippng roller permits said stripping roller tofeed the strip intoa longitudinal passageway 29 formed in the die forreceiving and guiding-the strip therethrough beneath the aperture [2,whereby the punch l3 may cut the desired patch shapes from thestrip inthe die. The severed patch shape is pressed downwardly in the aperturel2 to a lateral outlet opening 30 formed transversely of the die,whereby the patch shape may be ejected from the die after it has beencut from the strip.

In the apparatus illustrated, a vulcanizing unit pan 3|, having a fuelelement (not shown) secured therein, may be disposed in the opening 30with the bottom of the pan uppermost for receiving the patch shapeformed from the strip by the die punch, and the vulcanizing unit maythen be ejected laterally from the opening 30 in the die into a suitablecontainer or to other operating parts of the machine. However, in theformation of cold patches, wherein the backing of the rubber of thestrip is cured and therefore not adhesive or tacky, the patch shapes cutby the die and punch may be ejected directly from the opening 30 as theshapes, are cut from the strip, and the ejected cut out patch shapes maythen be suitably disposed for storage or other handling. It ispreferable, in either case, that a wiping finger of the opening 30 forunfolding the infoided edge portion of the Holland cloth'in the patchshape to completely re-cover the exposed unvulcanlzed or uncured surfaceof the patch shape in the manner shown in Figure 3. The wiping fingerwill normally engage the Holland cloth as the patch shape is ejectedfrom the lateral opening 30 of the die.

For separating and initially lifting the Holland protective coveringfabric from the body of gum rubber, the lifting and folding apparatus Ais provided with an elongate cylindrical finger or spindle 35 which hasone end secured within the inner race 36 of a ball bearing 31 which issecured in the end of a housing 38 carried by the shaft 38 of anelectric motor 48 or other source of power. The motor is secured to aswingable mounting arm 4| which is pivoted at one end on a bolt 42carried by the frame plate 20, and the shaft extends through an opening43 in the arm and a larger opening 44 in the frame plate whereby thespindle 35 is disposed to engage the inner marginal portion of the stripS of vulcanizing material. At its other end, the swingable arm isprovided with an arcuate slot 45 through which a clamping bolt 46threads into the frame plate 20, said slot providing for adjustment inposition of the spindle and the bolt 43' providing for lockingtheswingable arm in the adjusted positions.

As clearly shown in Figures 2, 4 and 13, the housing 38 and spindle 35extend outwardly in an opening 48 in the folder shoe l9 adjacent thepressure roller 18 and the outer end of the spindle 35 overlies theinner edge portion of the pressure roller l8 a distance substantiallyequal to the width of the infolded marginal portion of the Holland clothof the strip of vulcanizing material. The spindle is preferably spacedfrom the cylindrical surface of the pressure roller a distancesubstantially equal to the thickness of the rubber G of the strip ofvulcanizing material, or with its lower side substantially tangent tothe plane of juncture of the rubber and Holland cover, as clearly shownin Figure 13, whereby the spindle will readily enter between the gumrubber and the Holland cloth to separate the Holland from the rubberalong the marginal edge of the strip. With the spindle so disposed withrespect to the plane of juncture of the Holland cloth with the uppersurface of the gum rubber, it will be seen that the rubber will passbeneath the spindle and that the Holland cloth will pass above thespindle. Thus, the marginal edge portion of the Holland cloth isseparated from the gum rubber and may be lifted and folded inwardly overthe portion of the Holland adhering to the rubber adjacent the line ofseparation or the fold edge.

Due to the fact that the spindle 35 is freely rotatable with respect tothe housing 38 because of the ball bearing 31 which supports thespindle, it will be seen that the spindle will ride along the uppersurface of the strip of rubber G and will turn with the rubber as therubber is fed through the machine. The Holland cloth has a lowcoeflicient of friction, and will readily slide 32 be carried adjacentthe outletstantly rotating in the direction of rotation which thespindle undergoes when the strip of rubber is moved through the machine.However, due to the provision of the ball bearing 31, it will readily beseen that the spindle 35 may remain station- 'ary when the rubber 'stripis not moving through the machine even though the housing be turned bythe motor.

1 While the electric motor or the like has been described as positivelyturning the housing 38 in which the bearing 31 carrying the spindle 35is mounted, and such construction is preferable, it is believed obviousthat the housing 38 may be secured in a stationary position on theswingable arm 4| and that the bearing 31 will nevertheless permit thespindle 35 to rotate as the rubber is moved. Of course, the housing andspindle must be adjustable toward and away from the peripheral surfaceof the pressure roller 58 to permit correct positioning of the spindlewith respect to the roller to accommodate different conditions andthicknesses of the rubber of the vulcanizing strip. In such case, theswingable arm 4! would be adjustable and the housing 38 carried therebywould be moved toward and away from the surface of the pressure rollerin the same manner as if the housing were carried by the motor shaftrather than being secured to the adjustable arm.

In order to establish a more definite line of demarcation between thelifted or freed marginal edge portion of the Holland material and theremaining body of Holland adhering to the gum rubber, a contact roller50, having an annular along the'upper surface of the spindle. Theelectric motor also turns the housing 38 in the same direction in whichthe spindle 35 revolves due to its frictional engagement with therubber, such rotative movement of the housing tending to reduce thefrictional resistance to rotation of the spindle since the outer race ofthe bearing is conflange with its outer edges beveled inwardly to form aconverging substantially linear contact surface 5|, is mounted on asupport 52 which is secured to theupper surface of the folder shoe [9 insuch a manner that the contact edge 5| presses against the upper surfaceof the Holland at a point spaced inwardly slightly from the outerrounded end of the spindle 35. The contact roller presses the Hollandtoward the uncured rubber to increase the adherence of the Holland tothe rubber at that point and to form a definite line of demarcation ofthe lifted or freed Holland edge portion to facilitate infolding of thefreed marginal edge portion of the Holland over the remainder of thebody of Holland adhering to the gum rubber.

The contact roller also serves another purpose, as will now beexplained. In starting the strip S through the machine, it would bepreferable that the spindle 35 be so positioned that its axis is spacedfrom the pressure roller 18 a distance slightly less than the thicknessof the rubber portion of the strip, or slightly below the line ofjuncture of the Holland and rubber, whereby the marginal edge of therubber of the strip would be compressed as it entered the space betweenthe spindle and the pressure roller, and the Holland could not readilyenter therebetween. This wou d assure initiating separation of theHolland from the rubber. However, in use, after the spindle has beenstarted between the Holland and the rubber, it would be preferable thatthe spindle be positioned so as to be substantially tangent to the uppersurface of the rubber to reduce or eliminate deformation of the rubberas the strip moves past the spindle. The provision of the contact rollerpermits obtaining substantially the benefits of both positions withoutrequiring adju tment of the spindle from the preferable startingposition to the preferable running position, due

to the fact that the pressure of the contact roller shown in Figures 4and 6 through 11.

acting downwardly upon the upper surface of the strip S causes themarginal edge portion of the strip to lift slightly. Such lifting ofthemarginal edge of the strip S causes the line of juncture between theHolland and rubber to be moved upwardly with respect to the axisof thespindle as the entering edges thereof start between the spindle and thepressure roller, so that the aforementioned preferable startingconditions areobtained. Once the spindle has entered between the Hollandand rubber, however, the lifting of the marginal edge portion of thestrip is not so pronounced, and the benefits of the running position areobtained. However, while the use of the contact roller 50 is preferable,it is not essential and may be omitted, since the spindle may be startedbetween the Holland and rubber by hand or otherwise and since theHolland is freed from the rubber along a rather definite line by theouter rounded end of the spindle.

In order to prevent the body of rubber along the marginal edge of thestrip S from tending to creep over the upper portion of the spindle withthe Holland cloth, a foot member or shoe 55 may be mounted on the uppersurface of the folder shoe It! so as to extend rearwardly above thespindle 35, the lower surface of the shoe being spaced from the spindlea distance substantially equal to the thickness of the Holland cloth. Itwill be seen, therefore, that the shoe 55 precludes anything but theHolland cloth from passing over the upper surface of the spindle,whereby the gum rubber will be positively directed beneath the spindleand a positive. separation of the Holland and gum rubber assured. Ofcourse, the shoe 55 may also be omitted if desired, since the rubber ofthe strip only tends to creep over the spindle when the strip hasremained stationary for a considerable period of time or when thespindle is positioned too close to the pressure roller l3.

After the marginal edge portion of the Holland has been freed orseparated from the gum rubber of the strip S in the manner justdescribed, the freed portion of the Holland may be infolded to overliethe main body thereof in any suitable manner, and the folder shoe 89illustrated has incorporated therein one suitable form of foldingmechanism or means. The folder shoe is formed of two sections, an outersection 68 and a separate inner section 6!. The outer section issubstantially L-shaped and has the short arm or lateral portion thereofsecured by means of bolts to a block 62 carried by the frame plate 20,and its elongate longitudinal portion spaced outwardly from andextending parallel to said frame plate. The upper surface of the inneredge portion of the longitudinal portion of the outer section isrelieved or cut away to provide a fold restraining shoe 53, over whichthe freed marginal edge portion of the Holland may be infolded, asclearly The restraining shoe terminates substantially centrally of thelongitudinal portion of the outer section, whereby the infolded marginaledge portion of the Holland may pass off of such restraining shoe andinto juxtaposition with the remaining body of the Holland adhering tothe upper surface of the rubber G of the strip.

The inner section SI of the folder shoe is likewise secured by means ofbolts to the block 82 and extends outwardly from the frame plate 26 tolie adjacent the inner edge of the longitudinal portion of the outersection 60. The inner section is provided with a forwardly projectingfinger l 8 65 near its outer edge, said finger being spaced slightlyoutwardly beyond the outer end of the housing 38 carrying the spindle35, and projecting forwardly from such inner section 6| to a pointclosely adjacent the spindle 35, whereby the H01- land materialseparated from the rubber may pass over the projecting finger and therubber may pass beneath said projecting finger. An elongate groove 66 isformed in the under surface of the inner section and is so disposed andof such dimensions that the marginal edge portion of the rubber exposedby lifting and folding the Holland does not contact the underside of thefolder shoe. The forward end of the finger is 15 beveled to facilitateentry of the finger beneath the Holland and above the rubber, and theouter edge portion of the forward end of the finger is likewise beveleddownwardly and outwardly, whereby the freed edge portion of the Hollandis lifted along the beveled surface and gradually turn inwardly over therestraining shoe 63 of the outer section of the folder shoe. The planeof the bevel on the finger gradually becomes upright near the main bodyof the inner section 6! and then is turned outwardly by an outwardprojection of the inner section disposed slightly above the rearwardportion of the restraining shoe 63, as clearly illustrated in Figures 4and 6 through 11, whereby the marginal edge portion of the Holland iscompletely infolded above the portion of the Holland adhering to therubber adjacent the fold. The inner section BI is provided with adownwardly projecting smoothing or pressure foot 6'1, in longitudinalalignment with and spaced slightly rearwardly of the rear 1 end of thefold restraining shoe 63 of the outer section, for pressing the infoldedportion of the Holland securely against the main body thereof andcreasing the fold of the Holland to assure that the infolded portionthereof will remain folded until subsequent operations have beenperformed on the strip and it is desired to unfold the same. It isbelieved manifest that other folding means than the form just describedmay be used for infolding the freed marginal edge portion of theHolland; for example, a series of rollers successively engaging andturning such freed edge portion of the Holland.

From the folder shoe, the strip of vulcanizing material passes under thesecond guide and pressure roller 2| which further presses the infoldedportion of the Holland against the main body thereof and restrains thesame in such folded position. The strip with the infolded marginal edgeportion of the Holland protective material then passes the drive orfeeding roller 23 and guide roller 25 and is moved bythe strippingroller 21 through the opening 2!! into the die l l wherein the patchshape T is cut from the strip.

It will be noted that the patch shape is cut from the strip within thelongitudinal edges thereof so that the edge of the patch is spacedinwardly from the edge of the rub-ber of the strip and the fold edge ofthe Holland is disposed slightly within the marginal edge of the patchshape, whereby the infolded marginal edge portion of the Holland of thepatch shape, which is wider than the exposed upper surface of the rubberof said patch, may be unfolded to recover the 7 upper surface of therubber material of the patch and project beyond the edge of such rubbermaterial to provide a lifting tab or grasping portion on the protectivecovering or Holland cloth.

The uncut marginal edge portions of the strip provide means for pullingthe scrap or waste portions of the strip from withinthe die. Anysuitable means may be used to engage and pull such waste portions fromthe die.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that an apparatus has been providedfor making patches having grasping portions or lifting tabs formed onthe protective covering therefor; said apparatus including means forpositively freeing or separating a marginal edge portion of theprotective covering from the strip of vulcanizable material having theprotective covering adhering to one surface thereof and then infoldingthe separated marginal edge portion of the protective covering whereby apatch shape may be cut from the strip with the fold edge of the infoldedportion within the edges of the patch shape so that the infolded portionmay be subsequently unfolded to recover the exposed surface of therubber of the patch material and project beyond the edge of such rubberto provide the lifting tab or grasping portion for lifting theprotective covering from the patch material when it is desired to usethe same.

It will particularly be noted that the apparatus hereinbefore describedis especially suitable for use in high speed automatic machines whereinan elongate strip of patch material having a The contact roller 50 maybe provided for assuring a definite line of demarca ion between thefreed marginal edge portion of the Holland the remainder of the Hollandadhering to the rubber.

The vibrator mechanism 10 may be secured to the swingable arm 4 l andthe vibrating arm H and reed 11 may project through the frame plate 20in the same manner as the bearing housing 38 and spindle of the formfirst described. Such mounting will permit adjustment of the position ofthe reed with respect to the pressure roller l8 and the plane ofjuncture of the Holland with the rubber of the strip S passing throughthe machine.

The freed marginal edge portion of the Holland may be infolded in anysuitable manner as by the means already described as being incorporatedin the folder shoe l9.

It is also believed manifest that the reed 11 may be flat and have asubstantial width, and that the arm carrying the reed may be oscillatedupon its longitudinal axis, whereby the reed is actuated or oscillatedabout its longitudinal axis to alternately lift and lower the oppositeside edges of the flat reed to free the Holland from the rubber of thepatch material.

protective covering adhering thereto is fed through the machine, andwherein the apparatus will continuously and automatically separate, liftand infofd the marginal edge portion of the protective covering of thepatch material for the purposes described.

Another means for separating the marginal edge portion of the protectivecovering Hfrom the rubber G of the strip of patch material isillustrated in Figure 14, wherein an electro-magnetic vibrator or buzzer10 having a vibrating or reciprocating arm ll pivotally secured theretoon a pin 12 is actuated by means of an electromagnet 13 and a spring II.The swingable or vibrating arm II is normally biased away from theelectro-magnet by the spring I4, whereby a contact arm 15 carried bysaid arm engages an electrical contact point 16 to establish anelectrical circuit through the electro-magnet 13, whereupon the magnetdraws the swingable arm upwardly toward the magnet and lifts the contactarm from the contact point to break the electrical circuit. The spring14 then returns the swingable arm to the position shown in the drawings,and the process is repeated.

For separating the Holland from the rubber to the strip, an elongatereed I1 is secured to the outer end of the reciprocating or vibratingarm and overlies the marginal edgeportion of the strip of patchmaterial. The reed is so disposed with respect to the pressure roller 18of the lifting and folding apparatus that it lies in the plane ofjuncture of the Holland cloth with the rubber and vibrates slightlythereabove. It will be seen that the rapid vibration of the reed causedby the vibrator 10 will cause the reed to lift the marginal edge portionof the Holland away from the rubber when the vibrating arm 'II is liftedby the electro-magnet. Due to the high frequency of vibration of the armand the reed carried thereby, the reed will not contact the adhesive oruncured face of the rubberof the strip for any substantial length oftime, and will therefore not undergo any substantial lateral movement.However, the reed may be formed of a slightly resilient material topermit such slight lateral displacement of the reed as would be causedby the engagement of the reed with the rubber.

While an electro-magnetic vibrator or buzzer of a specific type has beenillustrated as the means for causing vibration of the reed, it isbelieved to be obvious that the reed may be vibrated mechanically, or byan air-operated mechanism, or by an uninterrupted high frequencyalternating current vibrator, or in any other suitable manner.

A still further means for freeing and separating the marginal edgeportion of the Holland, and for then infolding such freed edge portion,is

illustrated in Figures 15 and 16. In this form of of the contact roller.

the invention a gaseous jet, such as a jet of compressed air'or thelike, is ejected from a nozzle 80 having a long narrow substantiallyline-like orifice outlet 8| formed therein, whereby a thin substantiallyflat'jet of gas is emitted from the nozzle and directed between theHolland H and rubber G of the strip S of patch material for blowing themarginal edge portion of the Holland free of engagement with the rubber.The jet is preferably directed between the Holland and rubber at anangle opposing the motion of the strip through the machine, as clearlyshown in Figure 16.

The outlet end of the nozzle may be flared to direct a lateral jet ofgas at the marginal edge portion of the Holland so freed from the rubberby the jet, so that such freed edge portion will be blown inwardly overa folding shoe 82 secured to the support 52 of the contact roller 50 anddisposed to ride along the upper surface of the Holland cloth with alongitudinal folding edge 83 in substantial alignment with the contactedge 5| Thus, the blast of air from the flared nozzle will blow thefreed marginal edge portion of the Holland to cause the same to foldalong the longitudinal edge of the shoe and overlie the remainder of theHolland adhering to the rubber adjacent the fold.

Manifestly, the jet nozzle 80 may be secured to the swingable arm 4| ofthe lifting and folding apparatus previously described, instead of thebearing housing 38 and the spindle 35 or the vibrator Ill. However, thenozzle need not be so properly directed between the Holland and rubber11 of the strip of patch material to free the marginal edge portionthereof.

Furthermore, instead of folding the freed marginal edge portion of theHolland by means of the air blast, it is obvious that the foldermechanism incorporated in the folder shoe iii of the form firstdescribed may be utilized to infold the freed marginal portion of theHolland. It has been found that the pressure of the gas ejected from thenozzle orifice should preferably be not less than 40 pounds per squareinch. However, under some circumstances the pressure required may beslightly lower or considerably higher, as for example I pounds persquare inch, due to the variation in adherence of the Holland with theuncured surface of the rubber of the patch material.

It will be seen that each of the modified forms of the means forinitially freeing and lifting the marginal edge portion of theprotective covering from the body of rubber of the patch material stripS provides for positively freeing and lifting such marginal edge portionand then infolding the freed marginal edge portion to overlie theprotective covering adhering to the rubber adjacent the fold, whereby apatch shape may be cut from the strip with the fold edge of theprotective covering within the edges of the patch shape so that theinfolded portion may be subsequently unfolded to recover the exposeduncured surface of the rubber of the patch material and pro- J'ectbeyond the edge of such rubber to provide a lifting tab or graspingportion for lifting the protective covering from the patchmaterial whenit is desired to use the same. It will also be seen that each of themodified forms is likewise suitable for use in high speed automaticmachinery for continuously infolding the same for the purposesdescribed.

It is believed manifest that the strip S of patch material may besupported adjacent the separating mechanism by means other than thepressure roller 18. For example, the strip may be supported by the rollR of patch material itself, in which case the roll of patch materialwould serve the same purpose as the pressure roller. Of course, the rollR or the spindle 35 would have to be progressively adjusted toward eachother to compensate the reducing diameter of the roll as successivelayers of patch material Were unwound from the roll, and this could beaccomplished by cam means, or in any other suitable manner. Also, acontinuous conveyor belt or the like might be substituted for thepressure roller l8, if desired.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only, andchanges in the details of the construction illustrated may be made bythose skilled in the art, within the scope of the appended claims,without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A patch making machine for making patches from a strip of patchmaterial having a protective covering adhering to one surface thereofand including, means for separating a marginal edge portion of theprotective covering from the patch material of the strip, means forinfolding the separated portion of the protective covering to overliethe portion of such covering adhering to the strip of patch materialadjacent the fold, and means for cutting a patch shape from the patchmaterial and covering with the fold within the patch shape;

12 2. A patch making machine for making patches from an elongate stripof patch material having a protective covering adhering to one surfacethereof and including, a frame, support means for the strip of patchmaterial, means carried by the frame for feeding the strip of patchmaterial and protective covering, a separating and folding apparatus forseparating a marginal edge portion of the protective covering andinfolding the same to overlie the portion of such covering adhering tothe patch material adjacent the fold, and means for cutting a patchshape from the patch material and covering with the fold'within thepatch shape.

3. In a patch making machine for making patches from an elongate stripof patch material having a protective covering adhering to one surfacethereof, a lifting and folding apparatus including, a frame, meanscarried by said frame for separating a marginal edge portion of theprotective covering from the strip of patch material, movable supportingmeans carried by the frame for supporting the strip of patch materialadjacent the separating means, and means for infolding the separatedmarginal edge portion of the protective covering to overlie the portionof such covering adjacent the fold.

4. An apparatus for separatin and folding a marginal edge portion of theprotective covering for an elongate strip of patch material having anuncured surface and a protective covering adhering to said uncuredsurface and including, a support member, arotatable pressur rollercarried by said support member and adapted to have the strip of patchmaterial pass longitudinally thereover, separating means carried by thesupport and disposed adjacent the pressure roller for separating amarginal edge portion of the protective covering from the uncuredsurface of the patch material, and means carried by said support forinfolding said separated marginal edge portion of the protectivecovering material to overlie the portion of such covering materialadhering to the uncured material of the patch adjacent the fold.

5. An apparatus for separating a marginal edge portion of a protectivecovering adhering to an uncured surface of an elongate strip of patchmaterial and including, a support, a pressure roller rotatably carriedby the support, and a rotatable spindle carried by the support andspaced from the peripheral surface of the pressure roller, said spindlebeing arranged to be interposed between the protective covering and theuncured surface of the strip of patch material to separate the marginaledge portion of said protective covering from the strip of patchmaterial as the strip is moved therepast.

6. In a device of the character set forth in claim 5, means foradjustably positioning the spindle parallel to the peripheral surfac ofthe pressure roller and spaced therefrom a distance sufficient to permitthe strip of patch material to pass between the spindle and the pressureroller surface but close enough to preclude the passage of theprotective covering therebetween.

7. In an apparatus of the character set forth in claim 5, means carriedby the support spaced from the spindle on the opposite side of saidspindle from the pressure roller for preventing the patch material frompassing over the spindle.

8. In a patch making machine for making patches from an elongate stripof patch material having an uncured surface and a protective cov- 75ering material adhering to said uncured surmerges:

face, means for separating a marginal edge portion of the protectivecovering material from the uncured surface of the patch material andineluding, a frame, a movable support member carried by said frame andarranged to have the strip of patch material pass thereover, movableseparating means carried by said frame and disposed with respect to thsupport member so as to be positioned to enter between the protectivecovering material and the uncured surface of the patch material toseparate the covering material from the patch material, and means formoving the strip of patch material past said support member andseparating means.

9. A device of the character set forth in claim 8, wherein the movablemeans for separating the covering material from the patch material in-'cludes an elongate cylindrical spindle freely rotatable upon itslongitudinal axis and adjustably carried by the frame.

10. A device of the character set forth in claim 8, wherein the movablemeans for separating the covering material from the patch materialincludes an elongate cylindrical spindle rotatably mounted at one end ina housing so as to be freely rotatable about its longitudinal axis, andmeans for rotating the housing in a direction reducing the frictionalresistance to rotation of the spindle as the same contacts the patchmateriaL 11. A device of the character set forth in claim 8 including, afolder carried by the frame and disposed to receive and infold theseparated marginal edge portion of the covering material to overlie theportion of such material adjacent the fold.

12. A device of the character set forth in claim 8, wherein the movablemeans for separating the covering material from the patch materialincludes a vibrating member which is vibrated at a speed suflicient tocause the member to separate the marginal edge portion of the protectivematerial from the patch material.

13. In a patch making machine fo making patches from an elongate stripof patch material having anuncured surface and a protective coveringmaterial adhering to said uncured surface,

means for separating a marginal edge portion of the protective coveringmaterial from the uncured surface of the patch material and including, aframe, a movable support member carried by said frame and arranged tohave the strip of patch material pass thereover, a gaseous jet directedbetween the protective covering material I and the strip of patchmaterial for separating the marginal edge portion of the protectivecovering material from engagement with the uncured surface of the patchmaterial, and means for moving the strip of patch material past thesupport member and separating jet.

14. A device of the character set forth in claim 13, wherein the gaseousjet directed between the protective covering material and the body ofpatch material to separate the covering material from the patch materialand lift the same also,

is arranged to infold the separated marginal edge portion of theprotective covering material to overlie the portion of such coveringmaterial adhering to the patch material adjacent the fold.

15. A device of the character set forth in claim 13, wherein the gaseousjet directed between the protective covering material and th .strip ofpatch material to separate the covering material from the patch materialand lift the same likewise is arranged to blow the separated marginaledge portion of the protective covering material inwardly to overlie theportion of. the protective covering material adhering to the patchmaterial adjacent the fold, and a restraining shoe is pro vided forlimiting the inward movement of the protective covering material todefine the posi tion of the'fold edge.

16. An apparatus for separating and folding a marginal edge portion ofthe protective covering for an elongate strip of patch material havingan uncured surface and a protective covering adhering to said uncuredsurface and including, a support member, a rotatable pressure rollercarried by said support membe and adapted to have the strip of patchmaterial pass longitudinally thereover, separating means adjustablycarried by the support anddispcscd adjacent the pressure roller forseparating a marginal edge portion of the protective covering from theuncured surface of the patch material, and means carried by said supportfor infolding said separated marginal edge portion of the protectivecovering material to overlie the portion of such covering materialarranged to have the strip of patch material pass thereover, an elongatespindle rotatably supported at one end by a housing so as to be freelyrotatable about its longitudinal axis, means for adjustably mounting thehousing on the frame to dispose the spindle adjacent the movable supportmember so as to be movable toward and.

from said support member, the spindle being adapted to enter between theprotective covering material and the uncured surface of the patchmaterial to separate a marginal edge portion of the covering materialfrom the patch material, a folder carried by the frame and disposed toreceive and infold the separated marginal edge portion of the coveringmaterial to "overlie the portion of such material adjacent the fold,drive means for moving the strip of patch material past the supportmember and spindle and the folder, and means for cutting a patch shapefrom the patch material and covering material with the fold within andadjacent a marginal edge of the patch shape. I

, 18. In a patch making machine for making patches from an elongatestrip of patch material having an uncured surface and a protective covering adhering to saiduncured surface, means for forming a projectinggrasping tab at a marginal edge of the patch shape and including, aframe, a cylindrical supporting roller rotatably carried by the frameand arranged to have the strip of patch material pass thereover with theprotectiveginal edge portion of the covering material from spindle andthe folder, a cut-ting die for cutting 10 a patch shape from the stripof patch material and folded covering material with the fold within andadjacent a marginal edge of the patch shape. and means for unfolding theinfolded marginal edge portion of the covering material of the patch 15shape.

MARION H. ROWE.

REFERENCES crrm) The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name v Date 1,612,267 Dickson Dec. 28, 19262,233,209 Herzog Feb. 25, 1941 2,373,092 Avery Apr. 10, 1945 2,419,809Avery Apr. 29, 1947 FQREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 634,317 FranceNov. 18, 192'] 679,341

France Jan. 6, 1930

